Pigmented Memories

Chapter 1

-Yachi's perspective-

I was finishing my studies late at night, covered in maths textbooks, stationary, and 5 different documents open on my computer. I felt more asleep than awake at that moment, but I had to continue studying, or else I could fail the test. I have to do well in school, I have to prove myself, I have to be worth something, I thought to myself, sheer determination being the only thing keeping me awake.

I opened my phone to check the time, which was 11:30, and saw a message from Kiyoko, my insanely beautiful co-manager of the karasuno vollyball team. The phone read:

11:33pm

Kiyoko: 'hey'

Kiyoko: 'still studying?'

You: 'yeah ahaha'

You: 'how'd you know?'

Kiyoko: 'just a guess'

Kiyoko: 'im bored, wanna meet up?'

I thought about this for a minute, wondering why she would want to go out so suddenly and so late at night. I've only know Kiyoko for almost a year, but I've gotten to know how spontanious and outgoing she is, which only makes her even more charming. I obviously agreed; she's a great friend and I didn't feel like studying anymore, no matter how important it was.

You: 'sure, where are we going??'

Hiyoko: 'hmm just meet me at the school, i'll take u there'

You: 'okayy, sounds kinda creepy lol but im in :)'

I immideately rushed down the stairs, not caring about the noise I made because my mum's at work, or so I assumed, and it woudln't really matter if I woke her up. She's not the type of parent to care if I do something wrong, or if I do something right for that matter. My dad hasn't ever been in this house, or anywhere near me at all, so if he suddenly shows up and punishes me for sneaking out late at night, I think he'll have some explaining to do.

Luckily, my house only lives a few minutes from school, and I know Kiyoko's does too, so once I got to the school gates she was already there holding a bag that looks like it contained some sushi. "Hey!" She waved at me and smiled. "Hey" I replied, returning the smile, "Is that from Ukai's?"

"Yep. He's mad that we're still awake, but i'm sure the boys have done waaay worse stuff" We both laughed knowing thats definately true and then she took one of the sushi out of the bag and gave it to me. "Thanks" I took the sushi and bit into it, then noticed it was filled with an onigiri with some kind of prawn in it, which tastes surprisingly good. "So where are you taking me?". She then took my hand and started walking and said "You'll find out".

-Authors note-

This story is based in an alternate universe where once a person falls in love, a tattoo appears somewhere on their body. This is usually a small tattoo somewhere on their ankle or foot which is an image that is supposed to represent the person they love in some way. This person isn't a soulmate, and sometimes the love is still unrequited, however, the tattoo stays there forever. Even after a new one appears, the tattoos of your past lovers still remain like scars of your broken heart.

-Kiyoko's perspective-

So then we were walking down the street, hand in hand, which would normally make me blush, and still did, but with Yachi I don't feel like I have to hide anything. I couldn't help but wonder if I was annoying her, and question if she really wanted to be here with me. Still, there was a smile on her face and that's all that mattered to me.

We kept on walking in the moonlight until we got to the beach, which was where I wanted to take her. The lampposts lit up the stony sand getting washed in and out by the waves.

There was no real reason that I wanted to take her to the beach, I just love the view of the moonlight reflecting on the waves. But there was actually a reason that I wanted to see Yachi that night. Tonight when I was showering, getting ready to go to bed, I saw it- my tattoo.

It was a very small black marking on her foot of something that looks like a pen or pencil, but I couldn't really make it out. Even though this was a very vague image that could mean anything, Yachi immediately came to my mind.

After the shower, I rushed to my phone and almost slipped on the floor. That was when I messaged her to meet up, not even thinking about how strange it was to randomly ask someone that at 11:30 at night. All I knew was that I was in love, and I just had to know who with.

**********

"Ah nice, it's the beach" Yachi said, but I couldn't tell if she was happy we were here or not. "Why here?"

"I just like the sound of the waves and the feel of the sand and the... I used to come here with my brother a lot, so this spot will always remind me of him"

"Oh did he-"

"No he just went to college last year, I still see him on holidays and on some weekends"

"Thats nice, must be fun to have a brother"

"Yeah but he's really anoying, I'd rather have a sister for sure"

"Well at least you have me" She smiled at me with such innocence that she looked like Hinata for a second, and I couldn't help but smile back.

"Oh you're more than a sister to me Yachi, you're the only person who really listens to me, or cares about me, or thinks of me as anything other than a pretty girl." I sat down on the sand and waited for her to do the same. "You're one of only people keeping me happy right now" I told her, staring down at the shifting tides of the ocean.

"I could say the same about you"

Then we spent the rest of the night talking and playing and awkwardly dancing in the sand. We skimmed stones into the sea and talked about the upcoming volleyball tournament in Tokyo which we were leaving for in just 2 days. We ate all 10 of the tenmusu sushi that I bought from Ukai's store, and I explained why they're one one my favourite foods. She told me about all of the expectations so get perfect grades, and how stressed she is at the moment and I told her I would always be there for her.

The whole night when we were having so much fun together, I kept thinking to myself wether she was the one that the tattoo was representing. I was sure it would be a girl; I knew I liked girls since I was 14 and even had a girlfriend. I don't fall in love very easily though, or make friends easily either, but that year I made so many friends from the volleyball club and really felt like a part of something, especially being able to hang out with Yachi like that night at the beach.

A few hours later, when I felt her sleeping head resting peacefuly on my shoulder and butterflies in my stomach, I realised that I was right. She was the one that I loved.